Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Directs installation of electric vehicle charging stations at service areas on State's toll roads.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning electric vehicle charging stations, and supplementing P.L.1948, c.454 (C.27:23-1 et seq.) and P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Electric vehicle charging station" means an electric recharging point complete with electric vehicle supply equipment that is capable of providing, at a minimum, level 3 charging, or more current readily available technology, for plug-in electric motor vehicles;
"Electric vehicle supply equipment" means the conductors, including the underground, grounded, and equipment grounding conductors, and the electric vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, devices, power outlets, or apparatuses that are installed specifically for the purpose of delivering electricity from the premises' wiring to a plug-in electric motor vehicle;
"Level 3 charging" means providing direct current electricity to an onboard charger of a plug-in electric motor vehicle with an available power output greater than 20 kilowatts; and
"Plug-in electric motor vehicle" means a vehicle propelled to a significant extent by an electric motor which draws electricity from a battery that is capable of being recharged from an external source of electricity.
b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall provide, within one year after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), that no less than five percent of the parking spaces of each New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway service area having at least 100 parking spaces to which the public is invited shall be equipped with electric vehicle charging stations.
c. The authority shall determine, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities, the costs to the authority associated with the provision of electricity through the electric vehicle charging stations, and shall recover such costs from motorists who use the stations, in proportion to their use.
d. Such moneys as may be necessary to fund the installation of electric vehicle charging stations by the authority pursuant to this section may be appropriated to the authority from any moneys received by the State from:
(1) any private source, including but not limited to non-governmental, non-profit, educational, or charitable entities or institutions, if such funds are available;
(2) any settlement between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. or any other appropriate division of the Volkswagen company operating worldwide, if such funds are available as determined by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; or
(3) any settlement between the Department of Environmental Protection or any other State agency or department and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. or any other appropriate division of the Volkswagen company operating worldwide, if such funds are available as determined by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or any other appropriate agency head.
2. a. As used in this section:
"Electric vehicle charging station" means an electric recharging point complete with electric vehicle supply equipment that is capable of providing, at a minimum, level 3 charging, or more current readily available technology, for plug-in electric motor vehicles;
"Electric vehicle supply equipment" means the conductors, including the underground, grounded, and equipment grounding conductors, and the electric vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, devices, power outlets, or apparatuses that are installed specifically for the purpose of delivering electricity from the premises' wiring to a plug-in electric motor vehicle;
"Level 3 charging" means providing direct current electricity to an onboard charger of a plug-in electric motor vehicle with an available power output greater than 20 kilowatts; and
"Plug-in electric motor vehicle" means a vehicle propelled to a significant extent by an electric motor which draws electricity from a battery that is capable of being recharged from an external source of electricity.
b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall provide, within one year after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), that no less than five percent of parking spaces of each Atlantic City Expressway service area having at least 100 parking spaces to which the public is invited shall be equipped with electric vehicle charging stations.
c. The authority shall determine, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities, the costs to the authority associated with the provision of electricity through the electric vehicle charging stations, and shall recover such costs from motorists who use the stations, in proportion to their use.
d. Such moneys as may be necessary to fund the installation of electric vehicle charging stations by the authority pursuant to this section may be appropriated to the authority from any moneys received by the State from:
(1) any private source, including but not limited to non-governmental, non-profit, educational, or charitable entities or institutions, if such funds are available;
(2) any settlement between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. or any other appropriate division of the Volkswagen company operating worldwide, if such funds are available as determined by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; or
(3) any settlement between the Department of Environmental Protection or any other State agency or department and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. or any other appropriate division of the Volkswagen company operating worldwide, if such funds are available as determined by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or any other appropriate agency head.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to equip service areas along the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Atlantic City Expressway with electric vehicle charging stations. The charging stations are to provide, at a minimum, level 3 charging, or more current readily available technology. The charging stations are required to be installed in at least five percent of service area parking spaces in service areas with at least 100 spaces that are open to the public. The authorities are directed to recover costs for providing the electricity from motorists who use the stations, in proportion to their use. To pay for the cost of installation of the charging stations, money may be appropriated to the authorities from: private sources, if available; any settlement between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. or any other appropriate division of the Volkswagen company operating worldwide (Volkswagen), if available as determined by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; or any settlement between the Department of Environmental Protection or any other State agency or department and Volkswagen, if available as determined by the appropriate agency head.